Archive » August 9, 2007

Calendar of Events

By Steven Libowitz

Ending this week

Shakespeare & showbiz – PCPA Theaterfest presents revival of “Kiss Me Kate,” the Cole Porter musical based on the bard’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” A temperamental stage diva and her ex-husband, an egotistical leading man, battle on and off the stage in during a pre-Broadway tryout of a new musical based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The Tony Award-winning show's score includes the timeless Porter classics “So in Love” and “Too Darn Hot.” WHEN: 8 pm Wed - Sun through Aug. 12 WHERE: 420 Second St., Solvang COST: $27.25–$29.25; discounts available for students, seniors, children and subscribers INFO: 922–8313

Ventura County Fair – By far the area’s largest summer fair, Ventura’s 11-day event, which ends Sunday, features all the usual fair fare – a huge carnival, demonstrations, 4-H competitions, agricultural displays, hypnotists, and other street entertainers, gobs of junk food – plus an entertainment lineup littered with marquee names. Still to come: The Bangles (Thursday, Aug. 9), Lifehouse (Friday, Aug. 10), and the PRCA Rodeo for two shows each day next Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 11-12, at 2 & 7 pm. All shows included with ridiculously low admission price. Get the complete schedule, direction and details online at www.venturacountyfair.org or call 648-3376.

Ongoing

Pump Boys at the Bar – Circle Bar B Dinner Theatre continues its 2007 season with the fun-loving upbeat country musical “Pump Boys and Dinettes.” A hit both on and off Broadway, the musical fashions an evening of country-western songs out of the loose stories of gas station pump boys and the waitresses of the Double Cupp diner on the fictional Hwy 57 somewhere in the South. WHEN: Friday & Saturday evenings at 6 pm, Sunday matinees 2 pm through Sept. 9 WHERE: Refugio Rd. COST: $40, seniors $32 on Sundays INFO: 967-1962 or www.circlebarbtheatre.com

Homegrown Pix – More than 100 works showcasing 45 local photographers are organized into four thematic groupings, with the imagery moving from classic genre, such as landscape, portraiture, and still life, to altered landscapes, both urban and rural, to documentary works of war and protest, and on to new media and a site-specific installation. WHEN: 11 am - 5 pm Tuesdays-Sundays, through Oct. 7 WHERE: SB Museum of Art, 1130 State St. COST: $9 (discounts for seniors, students and children; free every Sunday) INFO: 963-4364

Thursday, August 9

In the mood for ‘Drood’ – Santa Barbara’s student-run theater company asks “Y-Not a mystery?” As in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” the unfinished murder-mystery by Charles Dickens’, who died before he completed the play. Rupert Holmes adapted the story for the stage, but in true mystery fashion left the identity of the murdered unrevealed, allowing the audience to vote each night for who they think committed the crime. ‘Drood’ ran for more than 600 performances and garnered five Tony Awards including Best Musical when first produced by NY Shakespeare Festival in 1985, but hasn’t played in town since the Civic Light Opera went defunct. Y-Not’s entire cast and crew of more than 50 is comprised of students ages 16-24. Proceeds benefit Hospice of Santa Barbara. WHEN: 7 pm tonight-Friday, plus 2 & 7 pm on Saturday WHERE: Marjorie Luke Theatre at SB Jr. Hi, 721 E. Cota St. COST: $20 ($10 students/seniors/children) INFO: 895-1769

Concerts in the Park – Award-winning men’s a cappella choral group Pacific Coast boasts a repertoire that spans everything from show tunes and vocal jazz to choral works and barbershop-quartet-style harmonies. It’s a bit of something for everyone at the all-inclusive concert series just steps from the ocean at Chase Palm Park. Don’t forget the blanket, picnic stuff and dancing gear. WHEN: 6-8:30 WHERE: Cabrillo Blvd. near Calle Cesar Chavez COST: free INFO: 897-1982

What he won’t do for love – No, we’re just kidding. Of course, Bobby Caldwell will sing “What You Won’t Do For Love,” the 1978 smash hit that set the R&B/soul singer-songwriter’s career in motion. Fact is, the staple – which has been covered numerous times, including Go West, Boyz II Men, Goldie and even Tupac Shakur – is still by far the biggest hit of Caldwell’s career, although he’s enjoyed several follow-up success, particularly in Japan, where Caldwell is something of a star. In any event, Caldwell has taken a recent turn into the classic jazz songbook, including forays in Las Vegas. But tonight’s show, featuring an eight-piece band, should focus on his blue-eyed soul roots. WHEN: 8 pm WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 W. Canon Perdido St. COST: $55 & $65 (patrons $100) INFO: 963-0761

Tempts & Tops – If 30 years back isn’t far enough into pop music history, Chumash Casino Resort has a double-bill of even more classic music in store tonight. The Temptations and Four Tops could fuel a Motown revival all by themselves, what with such hits as “My Girl,” “Ain't Too Proud to Beg,” “Reach Out,” “I'll Be There,” “I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Bernadette” in their combined catalogue. WHEN: 8 pm tonight and tomorrow WHERE: 3400 Hwy. 246 in Santa Ynez COST: $45-$95 INFO: (800) CHUMASH

Friday, August 10

Ceramicists’ Art Show – Santa Barbara County clay workers Oscar Bucher, Scott Chatenever, Danyel Dean, Deanna Pini, Joan Rosenberg Dent, Francine Kirsch, and Roy Prince comprise the artist list for an exhibit of new works sponsored by The Arts Fund Gallery. Each artist will exhibit between three and four ceramic pieces highlighting individualistic approach each has to working with clay. Public reception will be held 5-7:30 pm tonight WHEN: Open Tuesday – Saturday from 1-5 pm through Aug. 30 WHERE: 205C Santa Barbara Street COST: free INFO: 965-7321 or www.artsfundsb.org

‘Cats & Hynde – Here’s your chance to re-live some of the best music of the early ‘80’s when The Pretenders and Stray Cats join forces in concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Lead singer-songwriter-rhythm guitarist Chryssie Hynde basically recast the concept of women in rock ‘n’ roll when the Pretenders broke through in 1980 with such disarmingly aggressive yet achingly beautiful singles as “Brass in Pocket,” “Kid” and “Tattooed Love Boys.” The hits grew more mature if ever so less edgy through the decade via such tracks as “Back on the Chain Gang,” “Middle of the Road” and “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” and even continued into the early 1990s with the serene (some say vapid) “I’ll Stand By You.” Sure it’s been nearly a decade since they put out anything new worth much attention, but hey how often do you get to see members of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame (inducted 2005) on tour? Meanwhile, the Stray Cats put up a similar timeline, forming as rockabilly revivalists in 1979, but failing to chart until 1982, when a repackaging of their British releases resulted in the smash hits “Rock This Town” and “Stray Cat Strut.” There have been break-ups and reunions ever since – leader Brian Setzer’s solo career as a big-band leader is thriving – and even a live album in 2004. WHEN: 6 pm WHERE: Milpas at Anapamu Street COST: $37.50-$68.50 INFO: 962-7411

Circus Camp Finale – The Lobero Theatre’s ninth annual summer program culminates tonight with a performance called “Quest for the Wholly Circus.” Michael Andrews, known both as a member of BoxTales and the lead singer of Area 51, directs this group of more than 50 kids ages 8-12 who have spent three weeks training in such circus arts as clowning, juggling, mime, acrobatics, acting and aerial silks. The show takes place under a big top tent on the playing field at Bishop Garcia Diego High School. WHEN: 6 pm WHERE: 4000 La Colina Road COST: free INFO: 966-4946 ext. 613

Saturday, August 11

Shakespeare Santa Barbara – Early August heralds the return of six-year-old theater company dedicated to offering a fresh take on a single Bard classic. UCSB professor Irwin Appel – whose experience includes directing at Shakespeare Festivals in New York, Oregon, Utah and Colorado – directs this year’s production of “The Comedy of Errors,” Shakespeare’s most rambunctious farce in which mistaken identities create hilarious results when two sets of twins wander a once peaceful harbor town, wreaking both near-havoc and lots of laughter. The cast includes ShakespeareSB alums Jonathan Wade Drahos (who won an Indie Award for “Merry Wives of Windsor”) and Matt Tavianini, as well as new faces Ain Hunter and Aja King. After a weekend in Los Olivos, the show has moved on to Casa de la Guerra’s courtyard in downtown Santa Barbara. WHEN: 5 pm tonight & tomorrow, and weekends through Aug. 26 WHERE: 6200 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos, tonight & tomorrow; 15 East De La Guerra Street Aug. 11-26 COST: $22 general admission ($20 students/seniors; $15 children 12 and under) INFO: 231-5088 or www.Shakes-SB.com

Popcorn Film Festival – This annual, one-day event sponsored by Santa Barbara’s Community Arts Forum features outdoor DVD projections of short films and videos that range in genre from animation to drama, comedy and documentaries, culled from 333 entries from 29 states and 22 different nations. Self-taught animated filmmaker-artist-experimental musician Brent Green – a rising star in the art film world who has exhibited at Sundance 2006-07– will play live accompanied by a three-piece orchestra. Bring a blanket or lawn chair; treats and refreshments will be sold. WHEN: 6-8 pm WHERE: Samy’s Camera, 614 Chapala St. COST: $10 ($5 discount for CAF members) INFO: 966.5373 ext 104 or www.sbcaf.org

Local View – East/West Gallery’s new exhibit, “SB Art: The View from Here,” is meant to complement current exhibit at the SB Museum of Art celebrating local artists and their work. SB-based artists Fred Gowland, Cayetana Conrad, Rick Aber, Hugh Margerum, Roger Eberhardt, Matt Moore and Wayne & Penny McCall will show a wide-range of media, from photography to sculpted canvases, with the common thread that the works have been inspired by their hometown. WHEN: Reception 6-9 pm tonight; Exhibit open today through Sept. 15 WHERE: East/West Gallery 714 Bond Ave COST: free INFO: www.east-westgallery.com

Sunday, August 12

Minnie Music – Actress Minnie Driver began her professional career as a singer-songwriter in a band signed to Island Records in the UK in the early 1990s, before she switched to acting, and scored an Academy Award nomination for her role in 1997’s “Good Will Hunting.” Her rendition of “Learn to Be Lonely,” from 2004’s “Phantom of the Opera,” also received an Oscar nod. Four year’s earlier, Driver had begun a low-profile return to music, appearing at the SXSW music conference and releasing “Everything I’ve Got in My Pocket,” a minor hit back home in Britain. Now, Ryan Adams and Liz Phair are among her collaborators for a new disc, “Seastories,” out on Zoe/Rounder late last month. Driver makes SB debut at SOhO. WHEN: 8 pm WHERE: 1221 State St., upstairs in Victoria Court COST: $23 ($5 discount with dinner) INFO: 962-7776